GROWING POULTRY 269 



which are the common experience of those who overcrowd grow- 

 ing poultry. One reason for this is that, taking the exceptional in- 

 stance as proof that crowding is not itself detrimental, they look 

 elsewhere for the cause of their troubles. In cases where crowded 

 poultry gave good results a full statement of conditions will invari- 

 ably show that other conditions were exceptionally favorable, the 

 stock was uncommonly vigorous, the land was fresh, the weather 

 was favorable, the keeper was very skillful, and, it may be added, 

 very fortunate. The different kinds of poultry differ in capacity to 

 withstand the effects of crowding, but in all kinds of poultry it will 

 be found the rule that in order to keep the stock up to a high 



FIG. 298. Growing chickens on range at Pittsfield Poultry Farm. (Photograph 

 from Pittsfield Farm) 



standard of development, the growing birds require conditions much 

 more favorable, and more nearly natural, than those which they 

 require when mature. 



What constitutes overcrowding. Overcrowding cannot be pre- 

 cisely denned in terms of number of birds and area of coop or 

 brooder, or of yard or land. Indoors it is a question of air rather 

 than of area ; outdoors, a question of land not polluted by the drop- 

 pings of poultry, and free from germs of poultry diseases and from 

 poultry parasites which harbor in the soil. In the natural state, and 

 under approximately natural conditions in domestication, all kinds 

 of poultry are hatched and reared in small groups, or broods. The 



